June 30, 2011UncategorizedComments Off on Young Feminists’ Appalled at Act on Campus Comments

Press Release – Wellington Young Feminists

The Wellington Feminists’ Collective is calling for a full written apology from Cameron Browne, Vice President of ACT on Campus Auckland, after he told Tania Lim, Auckland University Students’ Association treasurer and Green Party member, to “get …
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*Wellington Young Feminists’ Appalled at Act on Campus Comments*

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The Wellington Feminists’ Collective is calling for a full written apology from Cameron Browne, Vice President of ACT on Campus Auckland, after he told Tania Lim, Auckland University Students’ Association treasurer and Green Party member, to “get raped” in a political debate on Facebook.

ACT on Campus President Peter McCaffrey has been quick to produce a statement defending Browne’s decision to reply “get raped”, offering excuses for his retort. McCaffrey also says that Browne has apologised, which has been refuted by Lim.

Lim has come forward about the offensiveness of the comment, and discussed her own experiences with sexual assault which she felt only made Browne’s comment worse. She has also said she has yet to receive a personal apology.

“Browne’s comments are a symptom of bloke culture and rape-apologetic behaviour,” says Nicole Skews, Coordinator of the Wellington Young Feminists Collective, “and the fact that members such as McCaffrey have been quick to defend his comments as being ‘in the heat of the moment’ and ‘not really serious’ just go to show what little sensitivity they have around the realities of rape and sexual abuse in this country.Tania Lim should be offered a full personal apology from Cameron Browne.”

“Telling someone to ‘get raped’ is not the same as telling them to ‘f__ off’ and I am appalled ACT on Campus is continuing to defend his actions. However, given that they were unapologetic after coming under fire for using a disgusting gang rape analogy in January, this is unsurprising.” Says Skews.

The Wellington Young Feminists’ Collective have also received information showing that some members of the ACT Party have been calling Lim’s sexual assault disclosure false, and implying that she ‘harden up.’

“If this is the behaviour from young members of the ACT Party, I shudder to think what the future leaders of the Party will be like.” says Skews.

1 in 4 New Zealand woman and 1 in 8 men will experience sexual assault in their lifetimes, according to a 2006 Ministry of Justice study.